Creating Joshua Stones – The ‘Why’ Behind Media and Creative Ministry

“Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight…that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’  then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

Joshua 4:3, 6-7, ESV

-- 

The ‘why’ behind a church’s social media platform isn’t any different than running a children’s ministry or hospitality team.

Imagine if you told your children’s ministry team that their service was needed because we ‘had to’ do something, and that daycare was essential to parents joining the church.

Of course, this would be a silly approach for a pastor. Shepherding the flock includes casting a vision with theological depth and biblical precedence.

So why should social media and digital ministry be any different?

The ultimate goal of any church ministry activities is to lead people closer to Jesus. This includes media ministry.

The passage from Joshua acts as a starting point for understanding why digital ministry matters. Historically, the Church has constructed epic cathedrals, decorated with priceless stained glass and imagery to depict the beauty and faithfulness God has shown them. Since moving away from this methodology, Western churches have seemed to forget about ways to memorialize God’s grace.

Here’s where social media comes into effect.

Just as Joshua instructed his people to use stones as a way of remembering God’s work in bringing them across the Jordan, churches can use pictures, videos, and creative works to commemorate the ways that God is working in our churches.

Picture your church in 150 years. By God’s grace, assume it is alive, well, and grown. How much of the past do they see? How much of the work before them, in the beginning of the digital era, has been recorded? Believe it or not, the moments leading up to this point will not collect themselves. It’s up to the leadership of the church to strategize and implement ways to ensure that God’s faithfulness is recorded and honored for future generations.

Most pastors aren’t privy to strategies and ways to implement these concepts with theological rigor and practical tactfulness. That’s why we’re using our giftings and heart for the Church at Reformed Media to tell the stories of your church to future generations until Jesus comes back.

Does this resonate with you? Or do you completely disagree? Either way, reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you on this emerging idea within Christian ecclesiology and work towards being a part of God’s redeeming work in the digital age.